Journals: Creative Responses to Literature
In addition to writing
formal essays, I would like for you to respond to the literature we read in a
creative and personal manner. To
encourage you to do this, I will ask you throughout the semester to produce “Creative
Journals.” For each such
assignment, please choose one project from the list below and use it to respond
to your reading assignment. Your
project must have explicitly stated connections with the reading assignment.
Minimum requirements and
extra credit: You must meet the
minimum requirements for each assignment, but you are free to go well beyond
them if you find yourself inspired.
I am known to offer extra credit (perhaps excusing you from your next
Creative Project) for exceptional creative work, but you must get my approval
in advance and keep in touch with me throughout your project for this to
happen.
Note: We may use this assignment more than
once. Please hold on to this
sheet.
1.
Describe your personal
response to the reading, citing specific quotes or discussing specific
characters that interest you,
2.
Write two “found”
poems of at least 10 lines each.
Include a 250-word statement about how the found poems reflect your
understanding of the book. (I’ll consider other poetry options on an
individual basis. See me to clear
your idea.)
3.
Draw and create
dialogue for three editorial cartoons that address contemporary issues raised
in the book. The quality of the
drawings and text should be high enough that the cartoons would be considered
for publication in the campus newspaper (The Campanile) or the campus magazine (Verde). Include 50-word explanatory notes for each cartoon
detailing how it is relevant to the book.
4.
Write realistic predictions for what a character or characters in
your book will be doing in the future. (500 words)
5.
Create a visual
representation (drawing, painting and digital art are just some of the
possibilities) of your book and write a 150-word note to me explaining what it
symbolizes. Check in with me in
advance on this one.
6.
Select one or more
newspaper/magazine articles that deal with the themes of the book and write a 350-word
explanation of the connection; alternately, use the contemporary news as a
launching pad for another one of the projects on this list, maintaining the original
connection to the book throughout your work.
7.
Create a comic strip
based on a scene from your book (five frames minimum — you must include
dialogue and put extra effort into this visual. Write 200 words explaining why you created your comic as you
did.
8.
Script and act-out a
scene from the book. Video options
considered; may involve more than one student, but check in with me in
advance on this one.
9.
Pick a scene from the
book and change it as you please, or write a ghost chapter for your book that
takes place between any of the chapters.
10.
Write a 500-word
journal entry describing the actions of a main character in the book through
the eyes of a minor character. (500 words)
11.
Write a 500-word story,
play, dialogue or monologue in which one of the characters from the book moves
to a different time period or setting.
12.
Choose a similar
project of your own and clear it with me in advance.